Camping Grill Buying Guide: Gas, Charcoal or Electric?

The short answer: For most camping holidays, a compact gas grill is the best choice: ready to use at once, adjustable, no embers and no ash. Folding charcoal grills are lighter and cheaper, but they take time and need safe disposal. Electric only makes sense if you know the fuse rating of the pitch. Never grill in a tent or awning.

With a camping grill, the deciding factor is not the grilling area but what is available at the pitch: how much space is free in the car or rear storage compartment, whether there is mains power, how well the pitch is fused and what the site rules allow. A device that works well on your terrace at home can be useless on the road because the right cartridge is not sold in the country you are visiting, or because the fuse trips at 6 amps.

Which camping grill suits which type of trip?

There are five common designs, and the choice almost always comes down to weight, start-up time and energy source, not features. A gas grill with a cartridge is the standard for tent and estate car. A compact gas grill on a 5 kg bottle is the caravan solution. A folding charcoal grill weighs the least and costs the least. An electric tabletop grill depends entirely on mains power. Multifunction devices with interchangeable plates (grill grate, plancha, pan) also replace the hob on the road.

The honest trade-off: gas is convenient and clean, but you depend on having the right cartridge. Charcoal is independent of connections, but it produces smoke, embers and ash, and both are a source of conflict on cramped sites. If you are also looking for a grill for home, you will find the designs with a lid and several burners under Gas grills compared.

Which gas cartridge do I need for a camping grill?

The cartridge depends on the connection of the appliance, not on the price on the shelf. Four systems are relevant, and they cannot be swapped freely. Before buying, find out which type the manufacturer specifies and whether that type is also sold in the country you are travelling to.

Two points are regularly underestimated. First, the cold: butane loses a lot of pressure at low temperatures and delivers hardly any output near freezing point, while propane stays usable well below zero. For spring, autumn and mountain regions, a propane-butane mix or pure propane is the more reliable choice. Second, the range: specific burn times cannot be stated reliably, because they vary widely with burner output and regulation. If in doubt, take a spare cartridge instead of relying on manufacturer figures.

If you travel with a caravan or motorhome and already have a gas system on board, the 5 kg bottle is the cheapest option, because it supplies grill and stove together. Which bottle size makes sense for what is covered in Gas bottle for the grill: 5, 8 or 11 kg.

How much power is available at the pitch?

Significantly less than most people expect. Pitches are usually connected via CEE connections, whose fuse rating is often 6 A or 10 A, and lower on older or basic sites. The calculation is simple: watts divided by 230 volts gives the current draw in amps. A 2000-watt electric grill therefore draws around 8.7 A and almost fully uses up a 10 A fuse. If a fridge, boiler or air conditioning is running at the same time, the fuse trips.

Practical consequence: electric is not a given on a campsite. If you plan to use it, you need to clarify the fuse rating of the pitch beforehand, ideally in writing when booking, and switch off other consumers during use. On sites with 6 A there is practically nothing left for a grill. On the other hand, electric has a real advantage: no open fire, no embers, no flying sparks, and many site rules allow it where charcoal is banned.

Weight, pack size and setup at the pitch

Two figures decide everyday use: the weight with a full cartridge and the pack size when folded. For a motorhome, the permissible gross weight also comes into play, and a grill with a cast iron grate plus a bottle can weigh more there than the rest of the kitchen equipment. So always check the weight including grate and drip tray, not just the body weight from the data sheet.

What else to look out for during transport and setup:

• Carry bag or latch: A lid that locks into a carrying handle stops the grate and drip tray from shifting in the boot.
• Stability: On grass and gravel, narrow folding legs tip easily. Wide feet or a sturdy table matter more than a large grilling area.
• Wind protection: Side walls or a high lid rim noticeably save gas on the road, because the heat does not escape sideways.
• Grease catching: A tight drip tray protects the rented pitch from stains. Many sites explicitly require this.
• Material: Enamelled or coated sheet metal is light, but sensitive to knocks in luggage. Stainless steel weighs more and withstands transport better.

Setting up and operating safely: step by step

This order applies to gas and charcoal alike and has no exceptions:

1. Read the site rules. They are usually at reception or in the booking confirmation text and set out whether and where open fire and embers are allowed.
2. Choose a location. Outdoors, on level, firm ground, with a clear distance from tent canvas, awning, hedges and neighbours. Not under trees with low branches.
3. Check the gas system. Check the hose for cracks and brittle spots, inspect seals and regulator, and tighten connections firmly by hand. This belongs before departure, not at the pitch.
4. Check for leaks. Spray the connections with leak detection spray or soapy water and watch for bubbles. Never search with an open flame.
5. Light it. With gas, open the cartridge valve first, then ignite. With charcoal, use a chimney starter or firelighters, never methylated spirits or petrol.
6. Supervise. The grill is never left unattended while in use, especially not with children and dogs on the pitch.
7. Switch off. After grilling, close the cartridge or bottle valve first and let the rest in the hose burn off.
8. Cool down and dispose. Dispose of ash only after it has cooled completely, in a metal container or the site’s designated ash disposal, never in paper or general waste bins.

The most important point is deliberately outside the list, because it applies absolutely: never operate charcoal and gas grills in a tent, awning, caravan or motorhome, not even for glowing embers or warmth. Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide. The gas is odourless, colourless and fatal within a short time in enclosed spaces. For the same reason, gas cartridges do not belong indoors, and they must not be left in direct sunlight either, because the internal pressure rises with temperature.

Can I grill on every campsite?

No, and the rules differ more than many people assume. Some sites allow only gas and electric, others ban open fire and embers completely or designate central grilling areas. The site rules and local regulations always take priority, even if the neighbour does it differently.

There is also the risk of forest fires. In dry summers, many regions impose temporary bans on open fire and embers, in some cases with clear distance rules to wooded areas. These bans affect charcoal directly and, at strict levels, gas appliances too. Find out about the current risk level for the region before you travel and plan an alternative for the worst case, such as an electric tabletop grill or a plancha on the gas stove.

Cleaning without a sink and consideration for neighbours

There is rarely a sink right at the pitch, and grease does not belong in the waste water of the sanitary blocks anyway. A two-step approach works well: while the grate is still hot, scrape it with a brush without loose wires or with scrunched-up aluminium foil, pick up the coarse residue with kitchen paper and dispose of it in general waste. Fine cleaning is done in the site’s washing-up area, not at the tap of the pitch pillar. Devices with removable interchangeable plates have a clear advantage here, because flat plates are much easier to wipe than a bar grate.

Consideration on campsites is not a matter of politeness but the most common point of dispute. The gaps between plots are small, and smoke from a charcoal grill drifts straight into the awning next door. If you grill in wind, pay attention to the wind direction or switch to gas, because no fat drips into open flames there. The same mechanisms apply in tight living situations at home, described in detail under Grilling on a balcony.

Conclusion: which camping grill for which holiday?

Tent holiday for two: A compact gas grill with a CV-type valve cartridge or with a screw-on cartridge to EN 417. Both are resealable, so you can remove the cartridge after grilling and store it separately from the appliance. A grilling area for two people is entirely enough, and the weight you save counts for more than a second burner.

Motorhome and caravan: A gas grill that connects to the existing bottle system via a pressure regulator saves extra luggage and supply worries. Watch the total weight and make sure the appliance can lie flat in the rear storage compartment. A multifunction device with interchangeable plates also replaces the frying pan.

Permanent campers: Weight hardly matters here, but durability and grilling area do. A sturdy gas grill on a 5 kg bottle with lid, drip tray and weatherproof cover is the most sensible investment, because it stands outside for years.

Festival and hiking: A folding charcoal grill or a small trekking grill with a screw-on cartridge. Both weigh little and pack small. With charcoal, factor in the charcoal, the firelighter and the time until the coals are ready, and check beforehand whether open fire is allowed at all.

If you are torn between several designs, the Grill finder narrows the selection by grill type, number of people and budget before you get lost in data sheets.